Lee County Sheriff and NAACP reconcile

Jul. 19, 2013

James Muwakkil, 50, NAACP president

Written by

The Lee County sheriff and the county NAACP leader restored friendly relations today after a disagreement this week over a critical letter Sheriff Mike Scott penned.

Scott sent Lee County NAACP President James Muwakkil a letter Tuesday criticizing the organization’s actions and announcing he would not donate to its annual fundraising banquet this year.

Scott accused the local NAACP of directing too much attention to the controversial Sanford murder trial of George Zimmerman — who killed unarmed black teen Trayvon Martin — and not enough to the young black men dying by gun violence in Fort Myers. He also took issue with the organization’s opposition to a portrait in the county commission chambers of Confederate army Gen. Robert E. Lee. The NAACP should worry less about a portrait Muwakkil called reminiscent of slavery, and more about hip-hop artists using the “N-word,” Scott said.

Muwakkil said the criticism was not researched and the letter, which twice used the “N-word,” was a low blow.

The two leaders spoke over the phone three times today, putting the disagreement behind them and agreeing to work together. They will meet next week.

“Because personally we like each other, and we respect each other,” Muwakkil said, “but we have professional differences, and we acknowledged that we do. And we both acknowledged that we said some things that we probably should not have said.”But Scott on Friday said he didn’t go so far as to say he regretted any of his statements.

“I stand by the letter 150 percent,” he said today to local media. “I stand by everything that I’ve uttered to (media) or otherwise about this situation, these issues, and I will continue to stand by it.”

Scott said he has no intention to donate to the Lee County NAACP this year. He has donated to the organization’s annual Freedom Fund Awards Banquet since 2008, and bought a table at the event last year for $1,500.

“My attendance and my financial support is an implied endorsement,” Scott told media. “And I do not endorse the current track.”

Muwakkil said he did not ask the sheriff today about donating, and doesn’t plan on doing so. Their relationship is more important than the money, he said.

Scott initiated today’s phone conversations, Muwakkil said. Part of what offended Muwakkil about Scott’s letter was that the sheriff did not call him to discuss his objections, or arrange to meet.

Scott said he and Muwakkil have always had a good relationship.

“(I’m) a long-time supporter of the NAACP, on record financially and personally,” Scott told media today, “long-time friend of James Muwakkil. I consider him still to be a friend — I think he would tell you the same.”